By Editor, on January 10th, 2012 by Doug O’Harra | ALASKA DISPATCH
ANCHORAGE–Alaska just experienced its third warmest December on record, with temperatures averaging about 8.7 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, according to the latest analysis posted by the National Climate Data Center. At the same time, the state was splattered with the fifth “wettest” December – most of that precipitation piling up in big white drifts that blocked on-street parking and choked residential streets to single lanes.
Alaska’s weird warm-wet month was so unsettling, the climate agency listed it as one of the month’s most significant weather events in the nation.
Read full story in the Alaska Dispatch.
By Editor, on December 13th, 2011 Alex DeMarban | ALASKA DISPATCH
The National Marine Fisheries Service has renewed plans that may lead to a listing of the ribbon seals under the Endangered Species Act, bringing to three the number of ice-dependent seals in Alaska that could be protected by the act.
The agency rejected a ribbon-seal listing in 2008 but said new information warrants a second look. That’s disappointing news, said Rick Rogers, executive director with the pro-industry Resource Development Council in Anchorage.
The combined population of ribbon, bearded and ringed seal populations in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas exceed 1 million animals, so why should they fall under the act’s protections, he wondered.
Read full article in the Alaska Dispatch.
By Editor, on September 2nd, 2011 By Dan Joling | ASSOCIATED PRESS
An investigation of a federal scientist in Alaska whose observations of drowned polar bears spurred national publicity on climate warming was started after allegations made by another Interior Department employee.
Read full article in the Anchorage Daily News.
By Editor, on August 26th, 2011  State of Alaska press release
ANCHORAGE–The State of Alaska filed an appeal challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2008 listing of the polar bear as a threatened species. The state seeks to overturn a June decision of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that upheld the listing. Read more->
By Editor, on July 25th, 2011 by Andrew Halcro | andrewhalcro.com
July 25, 2011: Alaskans have learned to expect consistent behavior from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) when it comes to resource development; consistently bad.
The EPA will soon decide on whether to unilaterally impose a more stringent national standard for air quality, despite concerns that doing so will violate our own federal Clean Air Act…
Read more at andrewhalcro.com.
By Roger Maynard, on June 30th, 2011 I just spent a great week traveling through Southeast Alaska where I had the opportunity to tour important projects, meet with city leaders, and hear from many constituents. I have learned both the challenges and opportunities before Alaskans in several Southeast communities.
It was an honor and privilege to meet with so many of you. I want to thank the communities of Craig, Klawock, Skagway, Juneau, and Haines for their warm welcome and wonderful hospitality. The many events I attended truly exhibited the Alaskan spirit and will help me to better represent you in Congress. I especially thank those of you that traveled from one community or another to meet with me and share your ideas and concerns.
Southeast Alaska is truly blessed with its abundant resources, good people, and, as I found in all of my travels, plenty of sunshine. Warmest wishes, best regards and God bless.
Don Young
Congressman for All Alaska
By Roger Maynard, on May 17th, 2011  Fishing Vessels Fools Gold, Pelican, and Mickey V, Haines, sport fresh bottom paint as they wait for the Monday evening high tide at the Haines Small Boat Harbor HAINES–Spring weather arrived just in time to take advantage of spring tides for boat maintenance late last week. The boat harbor is filled with the sounds of power tools and other activity as Haines residents prepare for a busy summer season. Forecast for the rest of the week is continued warmer (mid-60′s) temperatures with a little rain.
A look at the long-range forecast from the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center shows a probability of warmer than usual summer months in most of Alaska to the north of Haines. The same prediction for southeast Alaska shows equal chances of more or less rain, and equal chances of higher or lower temperatures. In plain English, that means the weatherman isn’t betting either way.
By Editor, on May 15th, 2011  Arctic Slope Regional Corp. today filed suit against the Department of the Interior over its unprecedented designation of more than 187,000 square miles as critical habitat for polar bears on Alaska’s North Slope, an area larger than the state of California, an ASRC press release said.
Read more in the Arctic Sounder.
By Editor, on April 16th, 2011 Warren Meyer | CLIMATE-SKEPTIC.COM
Few skeptics doubt or deny that carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas or that it and other greenhouse gasses (water vapor being the most important) help to warm the surface of the Earth. Further, few skeptics deny that man is probably contributing to higher CO2 levels through his burning of fossil fuels, though remember we are talking about a maximum total change in atmospheric CO2 concentration due to man of about 0.01% over the last 100 years.
What skeptics deny is the catastrophe, the notion that man’s incremental contributions to CO2 levels will create catastrophic warming and wildly adverse climate changes. To understand the skeptic’s position requires understanding something about the alarmists’ case that is seldom discussed in the press: the theory of catastrophic man-made global warming is actually comprised of two separate, linked theories, of which only the first is frequently discussed in the media.
Read the full article at at climate-skeptic.com.
By Editor, on March 28th, 2011 By Chris Stein | The Associated Press
JUNEAU — The state Senate’s Resources Committee on Friday approved a resolution imploring the federal government not to excessively regulate Alaska’s resources.
The resolution also applauded Gov. Sean Parnell for standing up to the federal government on issues of resource management.
Read more in the Juneau Empire.
Read full text of bill as passed from committee.
By Gary Lidholm, on March 26th, 2011  Congressman Don Young addresses the Haines Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the American Bald Eagle Foundation in Haines HAINES–“I call myself a true conservationist – not a preservationist,” Congressman Don Young said as he addressed the Haines Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Friday, March 25th. The remarks introduced his short address to the Haines business community and a delegation from Skagway as they gathered at the American Bald Eagle Foundation, and prefaced his thoughts about renewable energy and the need to reclaim state sovereignty.
Now in his 40th year representing Alaska’s only congressional district, the Congressman said he hopes he can represent us for 50 years because he is the right man for the job. Read more->
By Editor, on March 26th, 2011 By Andrea Shalal-Esa | REUTERS
The United States is staging high-profile submarine exercises in the Arctic Ocean this month as evidence mounts that global warming will lead to more mining, oil production, shipping and fishing in the world’s last frontier.
Read full story at Reuters.com.
By Editor, on March 24th, 2011  Gov. Sean Parnell Press release
JUNEAU–Governor Sean Parnell today issued the following statement on the importance of American energy development, in response to comments President Obama made while traveling in Brazil:
“The federal government should be focusing on increasing responsible energy development in America, not in Brazil. When President Obama said the U.S. stands ready to be ‘one of Brazil’s best customers’ when its new oil resources are developed, he demonstrated a fundamental misunderstanding of the critical importance of American energy security and the availability of existing domestic resources, including in Alaska.”
Read more->
By Editor, on March 24th, 2011 by Jim Burke | ALASKA DISPATCH
NORTH SLOPE–Construction workers for ENI Petroleum had just finished building the ice road connecting their land-based operations to a nearby island when a worker made a discovery that would bring them to a halt for days. There, on the edge of the manmade island not too far from where the road entered, was a polar bear. This wasn’t just any polar bear. On Friday, there, in the Beaufort Sea close to an oil industry drilling project, appeared a mother bear and her cub.
Read the full story in the Alaska Dispatch.
By Editor, on March 10th, 2011  Our suggestion... State of AK press release
JUNEAU–The State of Alaska has filed suit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) over its unprecedented, expansive designation of critical habitat for polar bears, which have been listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In a separate suit, the state is challenging the decision to list these bears as threatened.
The designation of 187,157 square miles of critical habitat for the polar bear, an area larger than 48 of the 50 states, is unnecessary in that the agency itself acknowledges that the designation will not provide substantial protection for the animals. Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on March 3rd, 2011  The ice-encrusted Perseverance lies in Haines Harbor last Sunday, after setting her crab pots in high winds and heavy freezing spray. HAINES–The good news is that the U.S. Weather Service Climate Prediction center was right. We wrote about it last November, when they predicted a colder than average winter and spring this year, based on the persistent La Nina event in the Pacific Ocean.
But that’s also the bad news — it seems colder and windier this winter, and we can hardly wait for summer to come. Read more->
By Kevin Reeves, on January 31st, 2011  HAINES–Twilight settles in with a deeper cold and wraps the valley in a brittle stillness. The berserker wind of just yesterday now offers only intermittent gasps, residual breaths too feeble to gutter a candle flame. The chimes suspended from the cabin eaves stir languidly but remain silent, their wild music spent, the discord of notes vanished with the bitter maelstrom. Read more->
By Editor, on January 7th, 2011  Governor Sean Parnell FAIRBANKS– In a speech before hundreds attending the Rotary Club of Fairbanks, Governor Sean Parnell today focused on how recent federal restrictions have crippled resource development and blocked jobs for Alaskans. From the offshore drilling moratorium, to ocean zoning, to the effort to lock up the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, the governor outlined numerous ways Washington is encroaching on Alaska’s sovereignty in developing its natural resources. Read more->
By Editor, on January 7th, 2011  Congressman Don Young Press Release
WASHINGTON D.C.–H.R. 39, to delist the Polar Bear – this legislation would delist the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
“Listing an animal as ‘threatened’ despite its increasing populations is absurd and incredibly irresponsible,” said Rep. Young. “This listing threatens the economic well-being of hardworking Alaskans. My legislation sets America back on the path to responsible development and prosperity.”
Read more->
By Roger Maynard, on February 23rd, 2010 U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works
 Washington, D.C.-The Minority Staff of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works released a report today titled, “‘Consensus’ Exposed: The CRU Controversy.”
By Roger Maynard, on February 2nd, 2009 Breaking news: Hundreds showed up for a global warming protest
View pictures here.
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| Scott Stantis
Chicago Tribune
Feb 4, 2012
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editor@hainesnews.net
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